One day till Ponta Delgada

Weather calm which has surprised us and we are still on deck in the sun with one day to go before the Azores. Weather is expected to be 18 degrees in Ponta Delgada which is just fine. We now respect those who row or sail across the Atlantic - there just isn't a thing to see. Seen about one yacht and one aircraft. Must be very hard on the mind alone at sea - thank you P&O for this floating hotel.

Times going fast since we lose an hour a day most days - we are only two hours off UK time now.

Tonight, we are going for a meal in the Ocean Grill with friends for their wedding anniversary which is a first for us on any ship. It is so friendly on board here and really easy to make good friends.

Our Head Waiter said last night that we would be able to get on board for lunch when they are in Southampton sometime as long as we give him 72 hours notice. That would be really good to do. We will bring him some Toblerone which is what they all buy in Poundland simply because they love it and it is three times the price back home. So next report should be tomorrow in Ponta Delgada - there is some religious festival on so we expect it to be unusually busy.




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Location:Atlantic Ocean (somewhere)

Eat drink sleep repeat

Time is going fairly quickly because we are losing an hour most days at midday to get us close to the Azores time ASAP. Out here, I have seen one yacht on the horizon and nothing else. Makes you really appreciate the earth is round when you look out to the horizon 360 degrees; sorry Flat Earth Society. Not much else to report at the moment. The Captain seems very thin - there is no way he eats on here and must get 'air drops' of salad at regular intervals or maybe he catches sea weed?

Weather is good at 24 degrees and sea state quite calm with a little swell. I hope we don't run out of fuel or wine. One of our friends was telling us how they lost the engines on one ship they were on and drifted for two hours - scary. But I reckon we could all row like Vikings to get some of the weight off.

Here is a picture of Sarah and in contrast, the mooring deck. What more could a man want?








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Location:Atlantic somewhere

St Marteen - Maho Beach

Well, what a day - another awesome day of a lifetime. Firstly, the cruise terminal is amazing and really geared up for us tourists - lots to see and buy at very cheap prices - you can't get t shirts many places for 5 bucks (apart from other Caribbean islands).

We got a taxi (which are all quality minibuses) with a couple of Americans who were really chatty and nice. Our port of call for all plane worshippers was Maho beach where the planes land so close you can almost touch them.

The Sunset bar there is excellent and large and really caters for the tourists plus the beach is great. Anyway on to the fun.

We saw loads of planes land including 737s, 757s and an A340. The most fun planes were the smaller ones who I think tried to get as close to the crowds as possible - unsafe but a great sport.














I decided to go onto the beach when an older Insel Air plane with older powerful low bypass ratio engines took off. Other modern planes were not such and issue but the thrust concentration was very high indeed - Bad move. My whole body was shot blasted with sand and the sea was full of hats, a couple of rucksacks and quite a few people being blown down the sand. Now I see why it warns you of 'Danger - Jet Blast'. I got some good video whilst I was running for cover. Still picture below shows the carnage. I had pockets of sand and anywhere I had sun tan cream on was covered in a layer of sand too!


We met our mates there and had lunch with them. We are now back on the ship reviewing our amazing photos and videos. Yes it is a bar at the end of a runway but it is one of the most amazing places we have every visited!

Tonight is Caribbean night so on with our new clobber for party time!


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Location:St Marteen

Aruba

We have made it to the lovely Dutch island of Aruba. It is beautiful but so very hot. The lady in the shop was telling us it is the hottest it has been at this time of year for a long time and unusually, I am feeling the heat so it must be hot!












We went on a tour today which was good. We went in a submarine, via boat from De Palm Pier to look at a shipwreck and fish. Unfortunately it was fairly murky due to the wind and currents but it was fun all the same and the fish were good to look at. We then did a general island tour mainly seeing the volcanic features, lizards, wild goats etc.


Best bit is the shops. Embroidered shopping bags only five bucks! Caribbean shirts only fifteen bucks so I got a new one.

The staff are painting out some Panama Canal lock damage which is inevitable since our ship was a tight fit. It is mainly a few knocks on the lock's polyurethane rubbing strips so nothing major - going to look pristine once again - hurrah!




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Location:Aruba

Panama Canal

Well, where do we start? This has been the most amazing days ever on a cruise ship. The Panama Canal certainly is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. We started transiting it at 7 am and just left at 4pm. It is amazing to watch the electric locos which cost 1.4 million dollars each, hook up to the ship to guide us through the sets of locks.

I thought each lock would take ages to navigate but they fill up with water really quickly. Amazing to think this was all built around 1913. We can see why our ship is Panamax - the locks are 1000ft by 110ft and we barely fitted. Other ships in the lock were mainly bulk and container carriers but because so few cruise ships can fit in the locks, we were quite a spectacle - we only saw one other cruise ship which is the Celebrity Infinity which was ahead of us so we got good pictures




It was weird feeling the ship rise up to the Gatun Lake and fall back down to the Caribbean. Like nothing on earth - this is a 'must do' for everybody. We are tired from the heat and humidity plus the excitement so may post a few more pictures tomorrow.











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Location:Panama

Nearly at Panama Canal

Before we get to the piece de resistance the Panama Canal, let's big it up for Suresh our Wine Waiter and the Headliners who were superb tonight. Now let's sleep and get up early for the first set of locks at Miraflores. Hurrah!







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Location:Costa Rica

Rainforest weather

We are nearing the Panama Canal. We are definitely near the rainforest. We had an amazing storm this morning, with rain like we had never seen. The sea remained calm but we were battered and there was a bit of water flowing in the top of the ship. Buckets had to be put out in on stairwell.







Now it is lovely and sunny again so we have been out on deck talking to the friends we have made. Sarah got her nails done in the spa: not cheap but they did a good job. I hope tomorrow in the Panama Canal will be spectacular and the tropical rain holds off.


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Location:Costa Rica

One more day before Panama

I forgot to show my gift for being on stage yesterday. Be interesting to drill through the wax stopper when I get home.




We are only a day away from the Panama Canal transit. I really can't wait; the shop has confirmed a shipment of goodies to buy on the day so hope to get some decent souvenirs. This could be a once in a lifetime experience! Let's hope not and I expect it to be better than I could imagine. I really like this area of the world. It is really hot and humid though but so diverse and interesting and the furthest South for us, ever!

It feels like we are on a full world cruise - you should some people's cabins. Absolutely rammed with stuff - wonder what their homes are like? We love the hardcore drinking, smoking and gambling team by the pool - they start at 9am. We could never do that - they seem to run on white wine and duty free ciggies.

We have found that some of the parts of the ship eg stairways are hot but other areas including our cabin are lovely and cold. I can't imagine the heat in a ship pre air con days. Our favourite drinks waiter Dinesh always looks out for us on deck and we have a real laugh with him - a cheeky chappie!




Other things to report: masses of dolphins yesterday and I saw a whale close up as it came out of the depths for air - got first hand experience of that blowhole sound. Better than Sea World!


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Location:Off cost of Guatamala

Huatulco

We went on a tour today - basically drinking a bit of tequila, eating some fried crickets (interesting taste for Spencer) and then went to see the Mexican fiesta show at a nice air conditioned theatre.




And at this point, things got crazy. Spencer got hauled out of the audience to take part in the Fiesta Show. It was really funny and he got a reward of a pot of the local tipple. Everybody on the coach was very nice and thought he was a great sport - plenty of pats on the back. I think it was down to choices and he was the youngest who was fit and able to take part.








Mexico really is as you imagine it from the films - lots of army and police riding in open topped trucks, lots of blokes working on the public verges and gardens and lots of people doing not much at all. The ship docked right on Huatulco beach so it is easy to go to the shops and have a paddle. Really, it has been a great experience.


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Location:Mexico

Nearly at Huatulco

We have survived into our third day at sea. No problem since it's lovely sitting on the sun deck.

Today it is hot and quite humid about 26 degrees. Despite all my walking I did stumble into the gym today and did some cycling. God it was boring but needs must and you could play Angry Birds on the bike computer.

Yesterday, an Extreme Artist did a painting underwater in the pool. We were like, 'yeah yeah this is pointless'. However after 15 minutes the painting he did was amazing. I think he does paintings in the sea amongst sharks, up volcanoes etc.

Sindhu last night was great as usual but very filling but we still managed some breaky in the Ocean Grill! Tomorrow we are at Huatulco - the Mexican Fiesta trip awaits us and I think it includes a little of the local tipple (whatever it may be).

After Mexico there will be four days' cruising into the Caribbean but the second day of that leg will be the legendary Panama Canal and I really can't wait ! Camera charged - check. Memory card capacity - check.







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Location:Pacific off Mexico

Panama pilot on board

Sea state is calm and it is hot hot hot off the coast of Mexico. Love the flying fish you get here.

The series of talks on the Panama Canal has started. Captain Ken Puckett is the ex Canal pilot and his talks are excellent and amusing. Some facts:

1. 40 Ships per day through the canal
2. 40000 people died building the first canal and railroad
3. Canal built for the US military by the US military
4. France was bankrupted by their attempt in the late 19th century
5. The canal is part of US defence strategy - it won't be blockaded like Suez
6. Going from Hong Kong to New York, the Suez route is only 250 miles more than Panama - competition is fierce.

I also saw a talk on General Manuel Noriega. If you remember the Iran Contra affair and Col Oliver North in the late 80s that was about the CIA supplying arms to Israel, to sell to Iran to fight the Iraq Iran war. Then, the money (8 billion dollars) was sent back to the CIA to fund the Contra rebels headed up by Manuel Noriega, fighting the Communists in Central America. He was also into money laundering for Pablo Escobar whilst working for the CIA and DEA!

Anyway, Noriega became an embarrassment to the US and he is now in a jail on the banks of the Panama Canal. I am hoping to get a picture of the jail, maybe Noriega himself if he is out and about in his wheelchair.

People might think cruising is about eating, drinking and relaxing. Not me: I am doing more exercise than usual and have so far this holiday walked 70 miles. Hoping to get way over the 200 mile mark power walking around the prom deck plus walking around when we get off.

In contrast, tonight we are off to Sindhu restaurant. Can't wait - it is lovely but more walking will be a requirement for a partial calorific offset.






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Location:Off coast of Mexico

Day 1 of 3 to Mexico

Firstly a couple more pics from yesterday. We love the heavily armed coastguard - you ain't getting through - that's for sure!





Also, love the helicopter base - so reminds us of Top Gun.





So, we now have 3 days at sea on the way to Huatulco in Mexico. This is a custom built resort the Mexican Government constructed following the success of Cancun. I mentioned to Sarah that the waves here look different. She replied 'that's because they are Mexican waves!'

Yesterday, some of the Guest Speakers boarded. One of them is a retired Panama Canal pilot so he should be really interesting and he has a good sense of humour. When they were pushing a lady in a wheelchair down the ramp, he shouted out 'let her go and see how far she goes!'

I must say, as usual all the Americans we have encountered have been really friendly and chatty as usual and the service has been great. Also, they view any prospect of Donald Trump becoming president as being frightening! They don't really like Obama's foreign policy too it seems.

We found out yesterday why we got a suite upgrade. Seems the previous occupants on a world cruise couldn't handle the long days at sea and bailed out around South America and flew home. Oh well, that's a good way of throwing £80k away!



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Location:Off coast of Mexico

San Diego - Free air show

We had a great sail out of San Diego. Owing to the large naval base we had a free air show of amazing Navy helicopters. I got some great pictures thanks to my SLR. It was also interesting to see all the aircraft laid up whilst the aircraft carriers undergo maintenance. What an amazing thing the US military machine is. Glad it isn't my taxes!













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USS Midway in San Diego

Found my dream museum - USS Midway Aircraft Carrier. This is a Desert Storm carrier retired in 1992. The tour was superb and the flight deck massive. There are loads of aircraft too. This cost 80 million dollars to build in 1943 (40% of work done by women since men at war). Aircraft carriers today cost 30 billion dollars!

There are two other operational aircraft carriers here: Theodore Roosevelt and Carl Vinson. Good views of them from here.

Can't wait for the gift shop!








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Location:San Diego,United States

First day on board and sunny

Off the coast of Santa Maria. Weather is great and sea state is calm. Had a great night's sleep - bed massive and comfy. Bought some World Cruise caps so we can pretend we have been on here for 3 months! Tomorrow it is San Diego.







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Location:Off coast of Cali

Goodbye San Fran

Whilst I have free port Internet and before we set sail tonight, I will say goodbye to San Francisco. It's been an amazing time and we have loved every minute of it. Favourites are Alcatraz and the very funny sea lions. Worst part has been the jetlag which we are nearly over now. Next stop after a day's sailing: San Diego.




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Location:The Embarcadero,San Francisco,United States

Waiting to board

We have arrived at the cruise terminal. Just waiting now to board. Nice new terminal. Soon be on for lunch.









.....and now we are in our room, all luggage here - all worked like clockwork. Thanks to P&O!




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Location:San Francisco,United States

Packed and ready to go

Just half a day left in San Fran before we get on Arcadia at noon and luckily Pier 27 is a brand new terminal so should be nice. It's been a great couple of days. Next stop: San Diego and the weather there is about 21 degrees which is good news. After that it's Mexico and then the piece de resistance: Panama Canal. Cameras at the ready!




And here from yesterday is a picture of our clam chowder:




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Location:North Point St,San Francisco,United States

Sea Lions, boat tour and clam chowder

Today started with Spencer going out to take photos of our cruise ship docking. It came in about 0830 into pier 27 which was a trek to get to but decent pictures were taken.

After breakfast (yes typical pancakes, bacon etc) it was off to Lombard Street to see the cars going down the crookedest street in the world. After a stop off to see the smelly but immensely funny sea lions, we departed for our bay tour. This took in sights including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alacatraz, Oakland Bay Bridge and the City.

After this, we had our clam chowder at Boudins bakery which is served in a sourdough bowl. It was delicious and strangely quite light and not too filling. We are off out tonight but it's been a great birthday!













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Location:North Point St,San Francisco,United States